Vibrant Array of talent headed to City Hall Plaza and beyond for the event’s 50^th New Year’s Eve Celebration

 BOSTON – First Night Boston is proud to announce its full schedule of performances for New Year’s Eve, which will fill City Hall Plaza and surrounding venues in the hours leading up to 2026. Musicians, performers, and artists will perform in Boston’s downtown, with the stage, lights, and ice in City Hall Plaza serving as the event’s centerpiece. The latest schedule is included in this release, and all events are free for all.

Festivities for the 50^th First Night Boston begin at 10:00 a.m. with performances at the Boston Public Market and exhibits opening at the First Church of Christ, Scientist. At noon, stages alight at Boston Public Library in Copley Square, the Copley Place Mall, and in newly refurbished Copley Square Park. Beginning at 2:00 p.m., outdoor performances kick-off at the main stage in City Hall Plaza with Leaving Irene, SUPERPINK, Houston Bernard, and MAMADOU blending a variety of beats for the growing crowds. The ice sculpture gallery will sparkle for all to enjoy, celebrating major events coming to Boston in 2026 and America’s 250^th birthday.

The Greenway carousel offers free rides through the afternoon, and at Boston Common, archery for beginners opens for guests to take aim at 12:00 p.m. The Skating Club of Boston hosts its first of two figure skating shows in the Frog Pond at 3:00 p.m.

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and others will speak from the main stage in City Hall Plaza at 5:45 p.m., before the First Night Parade brings hundreds of performers to Boston Common for the 7:00 p.m. Mugar Family Fireworks presented by The Mugar Foundation. As the countdown continues, the tempo at City Hall Plaza picks up with Sons of Levin, Veronica Robles, Hill House the Band, Kei, and the Sultans putting their local roots and vibrant sounds on display.

As the clock strikes midnight, a second fireworks display will set Boston aglow, with the best vantage points available at Christopher Columbus Park, the North End, and East Boston. The fireworks and headlining performance will cap more than 12 hours of free entertainment, light shows, ice sculptures, and other family-friendly programming ringing in 2026, and continuing the longest-running First Night celebration in the world.

For more information and to support First Night with a donation, the public is invited to visit www.firstnightboston.org.